One of the most common houseplants seen is the spider plant.The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) has gotten its name mainly because of how the foliage has an appearance like spider legs. Another thing to note is the way this plant shoots off a long stem to reproduce.This green and beautiful houseplant looks gorgeous when kept in hanging baskets, and it loves bright, indirect light. However, as the foliage looks quite similar to grass, pets, especially cats, grow an affinity towards chewing on it. Hence, parents are often concerned if this houseplant is pet safe or not. To know if this plant is poisonous to your pet, keep on reading this article where we have tried to demystify the topic.If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about Bombay cat facts, or are roses toxic to cats? Here on Kidadl.Are spider plants toxic to cats?The most simple answer to this question is that spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) aren’t poisonous for your cats. Even the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has classified the spider plant as non-toxic to cats and dogs. So, even though cats chew on your spider plant, it doesn’t have the toxicity needed to kill the animal.Having said that, it should be noted that some scientists believe that the leaves of this houseplant do have a mild opium-like hallucinogenic chemical that affects cats and dogs. If your pet chews on a lot of the leaves at once, then it can cause an upset stomach, vomiting, and even diarrhea. So, don’t allow your pets to chew on the spider plants by keeping the pots in such a place in the room, which is unreachable for the animals.Other Houseplants That Aren’t Toxic For CatsIf you would like to add a little more green into your indoor spot, the best thing to do is to get plants. Just like the spider plant, there are many non-toxic plants like calathea, true ferns like the bird’s nest fern, and even the popular prayer plant that are completely safe for your kitty.One of the best plant groups that have beautiful foliage and are safe for pets is the true ferns. This includes the bird’s nest fern, Boston fern, maidenhair fern, staghorn fern, and many more. These plants love moist soil and are easy to grow. However, the asparagus fern that’s also known as the emerald fern, isn’t safe for cats and dogs. It isn’t even a true fern and is rather named so because it looks similar to the other true ferns. If your kitty happens to eat the leaves, make sure to consult a vet as soon as possible.If you like plants that look like trees, think about going for palms. We especially like the date palm, but you can go for other variants present in the Arecaceae family. Even the usual bamboo is safe to keep at your house. One of the tips we can give you is to visit the website of the ASPCA to find a list of plants that are safe and not safe for cats and dogs.Which houseplants are poisonous to cats?Just like it’s important to learn about trees that aren’t toxic to cats, it’s even more crucial to learn about plants that can cause a problem. Monstera, which is commonly known as the swiss cheese plant, is known to be mildly toxic to cats and dogs. So, if you have it at your home, make sure to move the plant away from the pets.Most common houseplants today belong to the philodendron family. This includes everything from the heartleaf philodendron or what is usually known to us as the pothos family. Even rubber plants, and especially the jade plant, can be toxic to cats. Aloe vera might be good for your skin, but it can be quite bad for your cat. So, it should be kept away from your pets.Another houseplant that is commonly found in homes is ivy. Much like spider plants, ivies are easy to grow, and people love them for their foliage. But, all kinds of ivies, including English ivy and devil’s ivy, are mildly toxic to cats.Apart from houseplants, if you happen to have lantana around your property, make sure to get rid of it as soon as possible. Even though the flowers look beautiful, lantana is extremely toxic to cats and dogs.How to keep your cat away from houseplants?Luckily, it isn’t much of a chore to keep away cats away from your plants. One of the easiest ways to do this is by utilizing the vertical space available at your home. Wouldn’t it be a great idea to create a tapestry of hanging plants? You can also install rods from one wall to the other to hang plants.When it comes to spider plants, it thrives in hanging pots or baskets. You can even spend on macrame hangers to add definition to the room. Make sure that it’s away from the reach of your pet cat. When you hang or place the plants, ascertain that there’s enough indirect light. Alternatively, you can add shelves closer to the ceiling to make it cat safe. However, if you are a cat owner, you know that cats are great climbers, but it’s always better to be a bit more careful.Another thing that pet parents can do is to provide their cats with other plants like cat grass or catnip. It’s pretty easy to grow both, and all your need is a box and soil. Once the cat is satisfied with the alternatives, it probably won’t really bother the other plants that are strewn over the house.Some cats don’t just eat your spider plants, they can even dig up the soil or end up pooping in the pot. A good way to avoid this problem is by placing gravel or stones over the soil. Also, you should keep your cat’s litterbox clean so that it doesn’t cause an accident in any of the plants.Why do cats love chewing some houseplants?Don’t you get astonished while seeing your cat chew a leaf or even grass? Most of us think that it has to do with an upset stomach, or the cat may just want to vomit. However, it’s a little different with the spider plants, as scientists theorize that cats are attracted to it because of its opium-like chemical compounds found in the leaves of the plant. Hence, when cats have a mildly hallucinogenic effect after ingesting it.However, spider plants aren’t the only ones to be favored by cats. Catnip is the most popular, which is a plant belonging to the mint family, and a cat will happily eat its leaves to behave tipsily. Other than that, cat grass is also getting popular as an alternative to letting cats enjoy their fair share of grass while staying indoors. Cat grass is usually grown in a soil medium from rye, wheat, or barley grains and kept in a box that’s easily reachable for the cat so that it can nibble on it freely.Furthermore, cats do have a curious nature, so your pet animal may end up eating the tips of your really expensive new plant. Hence, at times you need to make the plant area cat safe to avoid similar accidents in the house. At times, the cats may also resort to eating plants if it’s constipated. So, if you suspect that it has become a common routine of your cat to feast on your spider plants or other plants, try to consult a vet.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are snake plants toxic to cats? How to keep them away then why not take a look at creepy crawlies: are spiders nocturnal? Do spiders sleep a night? Or do all animals reproduce? Explore unique facts about asexual animals pages.
One of the most common houseplants seen is the spider plant.
